Compare towns
Dover vs Francestown vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Francestown has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dover | Francestown | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,398 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Francestown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$104,063±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Francestown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Dover and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Dover and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.